Mr Brown, an architect of the 2014 "vow" promising Holyrood more powers in the event of a No vote to independence, proposed more power divulged

The former prime minister gave his speech at the Festival Of Ideas in Kirkcaldy, Fife, against the backdrop of a constitutional stand-off between the UK and Scottish governments over the calling of a second independence referendum.

He has already pledged to join forces with Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale to campaign for a People's Constitutional Convention to look at how power is distributed across the nations and regions of the UK.

Mr Brown, an architect of the 2014 "vow" promising Holyrood more powers in the event of a No vote to independence, proposed a range of controls be passed to the Scottish Parliament after Brexit.

These include the setting of VAT rates, the power to sign international treaties, and controls over agriculture, fisheries, environmental regulation, employment and energy.

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He said: "You can call it a more federalistic option, you can call it in the more traditional way Scottish home rule, you can call it federal home rule. I'm calling it the third option, a Scottish patriotic way forward."

He added: "I think it will become clear over the next few months that the third option, that Scotland has more powers as part of a federal agreement with the UK, a Scottish home rule that gives us the powers to make decisions in important areas but does not deprive us of the co-operation we need, will be the best option."

Mr Brown said he believes it can become the "unifying option for our country."

The former PM also called for the repatriation to Scotland of £800 million of money now spent by the European Union, and proposed the Bank of England becomes the Bank of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with fully staffed representation in Scotland ''to reinforce the fact that the pound is for everyone''.

The former PM also called for the repatriation to Scotland of £800 million of money now spent by the European Union

Not everyone was convinced with his argument. Scottish Government minister Michael Russell MSP said: "Gordon Brown is lining himself up with the Tories to deny the people of Scotland a choice about their future.

"This is Brownhog day all over again. Gordon Brown has made this same stale speech numerous times over the years - but it is beyond parody for him to put forward proposals which have already been rejected by both the Labour Party and the Tory Government.

"Gordon Brown didn't deliver federalism as prime minister, he couldn't deliver these powers for Scotland as an opposition MP, and it's unclear how he intends to make good on this proposal now that he is out of Parliament altogether."

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